Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 5

Ekādaśī Vrata-Vidhi and the Galava–Bhadrashīla Itihāsa

Dharmakīrti before Yama

Devanagari script

उपवासफलं लिप्सुर्जह्याद्भुक्तिचतुष्टयम् । पूर्वापरदिने गत्रावहोरात्रं तु मध्यमे ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

upavāsaphalaṃ lipsurjahyādbhukticatuṣṭayam | pūrvāparadine gatrāvahorātraṃ tu madhyame || 5 ||

Translation

উপবাসৰ ফল কামনা কৰা জনে ভোজন-ভোগৰ চাৰিধৰণৰ আসক্তি ত্যাগ কৰিব। একাদশীৰ আগদিন আৰু পাছদিন সমৃদ্ধ/ৰুচিকৰ আহাৰ এৰি, মধ্যদিন (একাদশী) দিন-ৰাতি নিৰাহাৰ থাকিব।

Word by Word

• upavāsa-phalam: the fruit of fasting
• upavāsa-phalam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upavāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (upavāsasya phalam)

• lipsuḥ: desiring (to obtain)
• lipsuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √labh (लभ्) + san (सन्) → lipsu (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); desiderative participial adjective (सन्नन्त-प्रातिपदिक) ‘desiring to obtain’

• jahyāt: should abandon
• jahyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hā (हा)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/Optative), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• bhukti-catuṣṭayam: the fourfold eating (four meals)
• bhukti-catuṣṭayam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhukti (प्रातिपदिक) + catuṣṭaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (bhukteḥ catuṣṭayam) ‘a set of four eatings/meal-times’

• pūrva-apara-dine: on the previous and the following day
• pūrva-apara-dine: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक) + apara (प्रातिपदिक) + dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन); द्वन्द्वसमासः ‘on the previous and following days’

• gatrā: (unclear; variant reading)
• gatrā: Anirdhārita (अनिर्धारित/uncertain)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: gatrā (अव्यय/पाठभेद)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय); text appears corrupt/variant. सम्भाव्यपाठः: ‘rātrau’/‘tatrā’/‘gātrā’ etc. Here treated as indeclinable as given.

• ahaḥ-rātram: a day and night
• ahaḥ-rātram: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Time-span)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahaḥ (प्रातिपदिक) + rātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); द्वन्द्वसमासः (day-and-night) used as a unit ‘a full day and night’

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) with contrast/emphasis

• madhyame: in the middle (day)
• madhyame: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘in the middle (day)’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Ekādaśī-vrata (upavāsa regimen)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It defines fasting as disciplined restraint across three days—preparation, the central full fast, and post-fast moderation—so that the vrata yields its intended spiritual merit rather than becoming mere physical austerity.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By regulating food and indulgence, the practitioner steadies the mind and senses, making worship, japa, and remembrance of the Lord more focused—an essential support for sustained Vishnu-bhakti in vrata practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure and timing (kalpa-style vrata-vidhi): the sequencing of observance across the prior day, the main ahoratra fast, and the following day—showing how correct method is integral to obtaining the stated fruit.